To mark the opening of the high speed rail link between Beijing and Shanghai slashing journey times from 12 hours to 4.5 (it's actually slowed a bit of late due to safety concerns), I was commissioned to write the Beijing half of this Guardian article focusing on hidden gems in the capital.
2013 UPDATE:Beijing Postcards has closed its Nanluoguxiang store, but they have opened a gallery space and showroom nearby and will soon open another store soon in the Gulou area.